The launch of the School Safety Campaign at the district level ropes in critical education stakeholders in curbing racism, bullying and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in schools. Deputy Minister for the Department of Basic Education, Dr Reginah Mhaule, has urged civil society, school communities and Faith-Based Organisations to stand up against the scourge of racism, bullying and GBV to protect learners at school and at home.  Deputy Minister Mhaule, joined by the Free State MEC for Education, Dr Tate Makgoe, launched the School Safety Campaign in the Motheo Education District in the Free State Province on 21 August 2022.

The launch was part of the National School Safety – Violence, and Bullying Prevention Initiative, aimed at creating non-racist, non-sexist and anti-bullying school environments across all nine provinces. The DBE developed the National School Safety Framework (NSSF), which provides an important instrument through which minimum standards for safety at schools can be established, implemented and monitored, and for which schools, districts and provinces can be held accountable for. In her presentation, Ms BE Qwelane from the Motheo District said that the Campaign will assist schools and districts to address cases relating to racism, bullying and GBV. “Bullying does not only affect victims, but the bystanders are also affected. Our district therefore found it necessary to provide psychosocial support to schools where bullying cases are detected. With reference to the 1,000 Women Trust, 57% of children have been bullied at some time during their high school career, either physically or verbally. It further revealed that a high volume of high school learners bunk school to avoid being bullied. Bullying leads to increased levels of anxiety and depression and early detection is critical”.

MEC Makgoe said that the Campaign will encourage learners and parents to familiarise themselves with the codes of conduct. “Bullying and racism incidents can be avoided if parents promote good values at home. Unless we mould young characters in the early years of schooling, the good work that we do as a sector will be in vain.” Speaking during the launch, Deputy Minister Mhaule said that a Partnership Protocol between the DBE and the South African Police Service (SAPS) is being implemented in all provinces to prevent crime and violent incidents in schools. The Protocol also prescribes that all schools be linked to a local police station to strengthen violence prevention initiatives. “This is important, as the country intends to move towards the criminalisation of bullying and discrimination. Through the Protocol, schools are mandated to establish School Safety Committees and ensure the functionality thereof. DBE supports provinces and districts in the training of these committees to reach full functionality. The DBE has also strengthened programmes to address bullying in schools by providing school-based training with education and awareness materials. Training of District Coordinators has also been rolled out to deal with incidences of homophobia and cyberbullying. Thus, schools are required to develop anti-bullying policies”.

The Deputy Minister also indicated that schools should work hard in promoting cultural and racial diversity to prevent racism in the basic education sector. “Colonialism and apartheid reified race, ethnicity, culture and language as vehicles to divide and compartmentalise society. These markers of human difference will be harnessed and celebrated to foster human solidarity. The need arises for the national Department to provide leadership in terms of the incorporation of Constitutional Values and the respect for human rights as levers of change such as the school code of conduct and co-curricular programmes on social cohesion and nation building. However, the social cohesion and nation building journey cannot be wholly owned by Government; it must be endorsed by all sectors of society for it to gain traction.”